Construction & Development Manager

Zipline • Phoenix, AZ

12h • Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service, on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. They design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products. Their customers include prominent healthcare systems, governments, retailers, restaurants, and global businesses. The company's system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back, having safely flown over 140 million commercial autonomous miles. Zipline seeks practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth, motivated by building systems with direct, meaningful impact and scaling the future of logistics. As the Construction & Development Manager for the Phoenix Region, you will be responsible for all aspects of real estate development to establish Zipline’s ground infrastructure in the region. This includes managing the entire process from site identification through permitting, approvals, and construction, as well as subcontractor management, invoicing, and site install quality. You will collaborate closely with the broader Deployment and Construction team, Real Estate, and Government Affairs teams to build strong relationships with key stakeholders and secure necessary approvals for network expansion. The role involves leading negotiations, managing external vendors, and ensuring project timelines are met, all while aligning with Zipline’s strategic goals. Support from Zipline’s Community Engagement and Legal teams will be provided to foster local partnerships and navigate jurisdictional processes for fast-tracked approvals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Real Estate Development, Finance, Business Administration, Urban Planning, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field
• 4+ years of experience in real estate development or construction.
• Proven ability to manage entitlements and permits for infrastructure projects in collaboration with customers’ Real Estate and Construction teams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to align internal stakeholders on project requirements and provide leadership with regular updates on challenges, risks, and opportunities.
• Experience with public meetings, city council engagements and speaking engagements / Public relations.
• 4+ years of experience working with external design teams (Architectural, Structural, Civil, MEPs) on commercial real estate or construction projects.
• Familiarity with working alongside Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to navigate permitting and inspection processes.
• Ability to travel frequently 75%+ in the Sunbelt region with a near term focus on Texas (Dallas, Houston) and Arizona (Phoenix), travel to our head offices in California and other domestic states, and possible international travel to support expansion projects.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead pre-construction strategies to streamline entitlements and permits for our ground infrastructure.
• Manage construction projects, site infrastructure installments, construction contractors, and additional real estate development projects.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with City Managers, staff, and City Council members and inspectors to facilitate smooth approvals and permit completion from Planning and Zoning commissions and AHJ’s.
• Work with customer real estate teams to seamlessly integrate Zipline systems into both existing and newly designed infrastructure.
• Source and foster relationships with external stakeholders, including local jurisdictions, utilities, and contractors.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with pre-construction and construction phases.
• Source and manage general contractors and subcontractors across various trades (construction, assembly, electrical) during bid, pre-construction, construction and site commissioning project phases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees